Alert archive / Montana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 29, NWS Great Falls, MT

June 23, 2012Teton County, Montana

NWS Great Falls, MT issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 23, 2012, 9:31 PM MDT for Teton County, Montana. It was in force for 44 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jun 23, 2012, 9:31 PM MDT (03:31 UTC)
Expired: Jun 23, 2012, 10:15 PM MDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Great Falls, MT
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Teton County, MT

The radar

The Great Falls radar (KTFX), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:33 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Great_falls, MT (KTFX), launched 00:00Z, 3.5 hours before the alert went out and 148 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 1027 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -100 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1751 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 150 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 208 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.2
Supercell composite: 7.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

278 
WUUS55 KTFX 240331
SVRTFX
MTC099-240415-
/O.NEW.KTFX.SV.W.0029.120624T0331Z-120624T0415Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
931 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN TETON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA...

* UNTIL 1015 PM MDT

* AT 924 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES WEST OF CHOTEAU...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
  25 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL GENERALLY REMAIN OVER RURAL AREAS OF
  WESTERN TETON COUNTY.

HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH
THIS STORM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 4812 11265 4812 11240 4797 11199 4769 11233
      4779 11256
TIME...MOT...LOC 0330Z 211DEG 21KT 4782 11238

$$

1 follow-up statement

243 
WWUS55 KTFX 240351
SVSTFX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
951 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

MTC099-240415-
/O.CON.KTFX.SV.W.0029.000000T0000Z-120624T0415Z/
TETON MT-
951 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM MDT 
FOR CENTRAL TETON COUNTY...

AT 942 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTH
OF BYNUM...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHOTEAU...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25
MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

&&

LAT...LON 4812 11265 4812 11240 4797 11199 4769 11233
      4779 11256
TIME...MOT...LOC 0350Z 211DEG 21KT 4792 11229

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Great Falls, MT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 23, 5:40 PM MDT, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 23, 5:40 PM MDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
540 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

UPDATED AVIATION SECTION

.DISCUSSION...

TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...UPPER LEVEL PATTERN CONTINUES TO LOOK
RATHER STATIC THROUGH THE SHORT TERM AS A DEEP LOW SPINS OVER THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST AND A RIDGE REMAINS IN PLACE OVER EASTERN
MONTANA AND THE DAKOTAS. ENERGY LOBES SPINNING OFF THE MAIN LOW
WILL PERIODICALLY MOVE ACROSS WESTERN MONTANA THROUGH THE FORECAST
PERIOD. PATTERN LOOKS FAVORABLE FOR STORMS...SOME POSSIBLY
SEVERE...OVER THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS LATE THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. HOWEVER...THE BULK OF ACTION IS
LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE WEST OF THE DIVIDE WHICH IS BETTER PLACED
WITH REGARD TO UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS AND MOISTURE. SOUTHERLY WINDS
AHEAD OF THE LOW WILL CONTINUE TO ADVECT A WARM AND GENERALLY DRY
AIRMASS INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO WARM INTO THE UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S
MONDAY AND TUESDAY. MEANWHILE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PRIMARILY AFFECT THE WESTERN
MOUNTAINS WITH A FEW STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE ALONG THE CANADIAN
BORDER ON SUNDAY AS INSTABILITY SHIFTS INTO ALBERTA. MPJ

MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE TROF
WILL MOVE THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST MONDAY NIGHT AND THE ZONES
WILL BE UNDERNEATH MOIST...UNSETTLED FLOW FROM THE SOUTHWEST. THIS
WILL ADD MOISTURE TO A DRY AIRMASS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD CONTINUE
INTO THE EVENING. THE LOW PRESSURE TROF WILL ROTATE NORTH OVER THEN
NORTHERN ROCKIES TUESDAY AND AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO
CENTRAL MONTANA. THE BEST AREAS FOR PRECIPITATION WILL BE OVER THE
NORTHERN ROCKIES WITH CHANCES DECREASING EASTWARD. THE AIRMASS WILL
BE UNSTABLE AHEAD OF THIS FRONT AND LOCATIONS WITH AFTERNOON OR
EVENING COLD FRONT PASSAGE SHOULD SEE GOOD LIFT FOR AT LEAST
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS EVEN THOUGH THE AIRMASS WILL BE DRY. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION WEDNESDAY AND THE CHANCE OF
PRECIP WILL DROP. BEST CHANCE FOR CONTINUED CONVECTION WILL BE OVER
THE NORTHERN ROCKIES WHERE THE COMBINATION OF A PASSING SHORTWAVE
AND LINGERING MOISTURE WILL COME TOGETHER. THE AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE
TO DRY THURSDAY AND REMAIN DRY AND STABLE THROUGH FRIDAY. ANOTHER
SHORTWAVE WILL BE APPROACHING THE ROCKIES SATURDAY. THE AIRMASS WILL
BECOME UNSTABLE AGAIN AND THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE.
ZELZER

&&

.AVIATION...
UPDATED 2340Z.
MOIST SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT CONTINUES. THE AIRMASS HAS
BECOME UNSTABLE WITH THE GREATEST INSTABILITY WEST OF A KHLN TO KGTF
TO KCTB LINE. THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY WEST OF THIS LINE WITH SOME
STORMS BECOMING STRONG. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE EAST OF
THIS LINE. CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY SHOULD END BY 07Z WITH SKIES
CLEARING. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAIL WITH MVFR CONDITIONS AND ERRATIC
WINDS IN THE VICINITY OF THUNDERSTORMS. MOUNTAINS MAY BE OBSCURED AT
TIMES.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
FAR SOUTHWEST MONTANA CONTINUES TO LOOK DRY AND WINDY FOR SUNDAY
AND MONDAY AFTERNOONS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH MISSOULA FORECAST
OFFICE HAVE ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR FIRE ZONES 110 AND 111
FOR SUNDAY. ANTICIPATE THAT ANOTHER WARNING WILL BE REQUIRED FOR
MONDAY AS WELL. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT ZONE 118 WILL BE
SPARED THE STRONGER WINDS SO DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT HIGHLIGHTS
WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THIS AREA. MPJ

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
GTF  58  90  59  90 /  20  10  10  10
CTB  54  78  55  81 /  70  20  20  10
HLN  58  93  57  92 /  20  10  10  20
BZN  52  92  53  92 /  10   0  10  10
WEY  46  82  47  83 /   0   0   0  20
DLN  52  88  52  88 /   0  10  10  20
HVR  60  90  61  93 /  20  10  20  10
LWT  58  88  58  90 /  20   0  10  10

&&

.TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY BEAVERHEAD...
JEFFERSON...MADISON.

&&

WEATHER.GOV/GREATFALLS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 23, 3:03 PM MDT, 6 hours 28 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
303 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

MTZ008-015-052-242115-
BEAVERHEAD-MADISON-JEFFERSON-
303 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

RED FLAG WARNING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS IS IN
EFFECT FROM NOON UNTIL 9 PM MDT SUNDAY. VERY WARM AND DRY
CONDITIONS WILL BRING INCREASED FIRE DANGER OVER SOUTHWEST MONTANA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

MTZ051-053>055-242115-
FERGUS-BROADWATER-MEAGHER-GALLATIN-
303 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MONTANA
AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY
WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES REACHING THE UPPER 80S TO MID 90S OVER THE
VALLEYS AND PLAINS. LOW HUMIDITIES WILL ALSO BRING AN INCREASE IN FIRE
DANGER CONDITIONS BUT NO FIRE WEATHER HEADLINES ARE EXPECTED AT
THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

MTZ009>014-044>050-242115-
NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-EASTERN GLACIER-HILL-CASCADE-
CHOUTEAU-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-TOOLE-LIBERTY-
EASTERN PONDERA-BLAINE-SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT-
EASTERN TETON-JUDITH BASIN-
303 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MONTANA...NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

QUICK-MOVING DISTURBANCES WILL BRING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA THIS
EVENING. SOME STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY
WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES REACHING THE UPPER 80S TO MID 90S OVER THE
VALLEYS AND PLAINS. LOW HUMIDITIES WILL ALSO BRING AN INCREASE IN FIRE
DANGER CONDITIONS BUT NO FIRE WEATHER HEADLINES ARE EXPECTED AT
THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 23, 7:56 PM MDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
756 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0737 PM     HAIL             2 S CHOTEAU             47.78N 112.18W
06/23/2012  E1.00 INCH       TETON              MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

PN

Local storm report, Jun 23, 8:00 PM MDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
800 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0753 PM     HAIL             CHOTEAU                 47.81N 112.18W
06/23/2012  E1.00 INCH       TETON              MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EMANUEL

Local storm report, Jun 23, 8:10 PM MDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
810 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0801 PM     HAIL             1 NW CHOTEAU            47.82N 112.19W
06/23/2012  E1.00 INCH       TETON              MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL COVERED GROUND... TREE FOLIAGE DAMAGED. GROUND FOG
            AS STORM CLEARED.

&&

PN

Local storm report, Jun 23, 8:14 PM MDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
814 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0811 PM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NE CHOTEAU            47.82N 112.17W
06/23/2012  M2.20 INCH       TETON              MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2.2 RAIN IN 30 MINUTES WITH HAIL COVERING GROUND.

&&

PN

Local storm report, Jun 23, 8:18 PM MDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
818 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0817 PM     HAIL             8 ENE CHOTEAU           47.87N 112.02W
06/23/2012  M1.75 INCH       TETON              MT   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL MOSTLY .25 TO .375 BUT A FEW STONES MEASURED TO
            GOLF BALL.

&&

PN

Local storm report, Jun 23, 8:51 PM MDT, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
851 PM MDT SAT JUN 23 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0846 PM     HAIL             4 NW BRADY              48.08N 111.90W
06/23/2012  E1.00 INCH       PONDERA            MT   PUBLIC

&&

PN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Great Falls, MT issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 23, 6:25 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Glacier	40 min
Jun 23, 6:48 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX	Pondera	42 min
Jun 23, 6:58 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Lewis and Clark, Teton	47 min
Jun 23, 7:35 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX	Pondera, Toole	55 min
Jun 23, 7:42 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Pondera, Teton	48 min
Jun 23, 8:29 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Chouteau, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, Toole	46 min
Jun 23, 8:32 PM MDT	Tornado Warning	TFX	Pondera, Teton	28 min
Jun 23, 8:58 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Lewis and Clark, Teton	47 min
Jun 23, 9:14 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Chouteau, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, Toole	46 min
Jun 23, 9:43 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Lewis and Clark, Teton	33 min
Jun 23, 9:54 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Hill, Liberty, Pondera, Toole	51 min
Jun 23, 10:10 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Pondera, Teton, Toole	50 min
Jun 23, 10:45 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	TFX	Hill	45 min
Jun 23, 10:59 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TFX	Pondera, Toole	17 min
Jun 24, 4:29 PM MDT	Red Flag Warning	TFX	Broadwater, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Meagher	8 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Montana, 2012 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.